“It’s just fun to hang out with your friends down at the competition,” said Shyanne King, 11. It’s not just dancing at the competition; dancers get to meet new people and spend time together, added King, who’s been dancing for nearly three years.

“They’ve made a lot of friends throughout Washington,” said Kristina Marcus, owner of the dance studio. She’s been teaching at On Broadway Dance for nearly 12 years but has been dancing since she was 3. She teaches many types of dancing, including tap, ballet, lyrical, hip hop, jazz and contemporary, and has 75 students.

Kaitlyn Marcus, 15, has been competing since age 4 and is also a cheerleader at Oak Harbor High School. She sees many of the friends she meets at dance competitions at cheer camp and keeps in contact with them.

The girls learning at the studio are also close.

“I think of these girls as my family,” Kaitlyn Marcus said.

Cassie Buchanan, 13, has been dancing since age 8.

“If I have a bad day, I know I can come and forget about it and just dance,” Buchanan said. “I feel like I’m more myself and I don’t have to pretend to be anyone else.”

“I really like dance because it’s a really good pastime,” added Booth, 10.

Booth and King earned a silver from their duet at the competition and Booth earned a platinum from her solo and King a gold from her solo. Kaitlyn Marcus and Booth earned a platinum from their duet. Buchanan earned a gold from her solo.

The girls will compete in Phoenix this summer and also do local competitions.

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